Gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides various embodiments directed to a gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a plurality of initial hands of cards, receives a hand formation input, and forms and displays a complete hand for each initial hand. For each complete hand, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winning hand categories. If at least one complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of the winning hand categories, for each complete hand that forms one such winning hand, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand, receives a selection of a displayed winning hand category, and adds an enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated with the selected winning hand category.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or maycontain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyrightowner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of thepatent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appearsin the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Over the past three decades, video poker has become very popular. One ofthe most common variations of video poker is Five Card Draw Poker. Ingeneral, for a play of a Five Card Draw Poker game, a gaming systemdeals a player a hand of five cards face up from a fifty-two card deckof playing cards. The gaming system enables the player to discard noneof, one of, a plurality of but less than all of, or all of the fivecards from the player's hand. The gaming system replaces each discardedcard with another card from the deck. After replacement of any discardedcards, the gaming system evaluates the cards of the player's handagainst a paytable to determine whether the player's hand forms awinning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winninghand categories.

The paytable employed by the gaming system is determined based on thetype of Five Card Draw Game being played. Table 1 below includes thedifferent winning hand categories, example winning hands associated withthe different winning hand categories, and awards associated with thedifferent winning hand categories for different wager amounts for anexample Jacks or Better Five Card Draw Poker Game. These winning handcategories are listed from highest to lowest ranking. In this example,the winning hands of the “Jacks or Better” winning hand category includea pair of Jacks, a pair of Queens, a pair of Kings, and a pair of Aces.

TABLE 1 Winning Hand Categories, Example Winning Hands, and Awards forExample Jacks or Better Five Card Draw Poker Award Award Award AwardAward (Wager (Wager (Wager (Wager (Wager Winning Hand Example of 1 of 2of 3 of 4 of 5 Category Winning Hand Credit) Credits) Credits) Credits)Credits) Royal Flush A 

 K 

 Q 

 J 

 10 

250 500 750 1000 4000 Straight Flush 10 

 9 

 8 

 7 

 6 

50 100 150 200 250 Four of a Kind J 

 J♥ J♦ J 

 3 

25 50 75 100 125 Full House A♥ A♦ A 

 6♦ 6 

9 18 27 36 45 Flush A 

 J 

 8 

 6 

 2 

6 12 18 24 30 Straight 8♦ 7 

 6 

 5 

 4 

4 8 12 16 20 Three of a Kind Q 

 Q♥ Q♦ 6♦ 2 

3 6 9 12 15 Two Pair 8♦ 8♥ 5♥ 5 

 2 

2 4 6 8 10 Jacks or Better K♦ K 

 8 

 7 

 2♥ 1 2 3 4 5

Multi-play video poker games such as Triple Play Video Poker, Five PlayVideo Poker, Ten Play Video Poker, Fifty Play Video Poker, and OneHundred Play Video Poker have also become very popular. Such multi-playpoker games employ a primary hand and one or more additional hands thatare played simultaneously. In many of these multi-play poker games, thegaming system deals a primary hand of five cards from a deck of cards tothe player and enables the player to discard none of, one of, aplurality of but less than all of, or all of the five cards from theprimary hand. The gaming system includes any cards held in the primaryhand (i.e., any non-discarded cards in the primary hand) in eachadditional hand. The gaming system then completes the primary hand byadding one or more replacement cards (if necessary) from the deck, andcompletes each additional hand by adding one or more additional cardsfrom a separate deck.

FIG. 1 illustrates a screen shot of a gaming system operating OneHundred Play Video Poker, which includes one primary hand andninety-nine additional hands. For a play of One Hundred Play VideoPoker, the displayed additional hands are relatively small (compared tothe displayed primary hand) and, for all intents and purposes,unreadable or extremely difficult to read. As a result, certain playersof One Hundred Play Video Poker are often frustrated because theseplayers are not able to determine which of the additional hands arewinning hands. Indeed, such players may not even be able to determinewhich cards are included in the additional hands, much less whetherthose cards form winning hands.

In certain known multi-play poker games the gaming system attempts tosolve this problem by, after determining whether any of the hands arewinning hands, displaying a summary of the winning hands that includes aquantity of the winning hands associated with each winning handcategory. However, due to the large quantity of hands and the relativelysmall displays of the hands, it is still difficult for a player todiscern exactly which of the hands are winning hands.

A continuing need thus exists for gaming systems and methods thatprovide new and exciting card games that facilitate game play andincrease player enjoyment.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gamingsystem and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. Incertain embodiments, the gaming system provides a multi-hand card game.For a play of the multi-hand card game, following the display of anywinning hands, in various embodiments the gaming system enables a playerto cause the gaming system to add an enhancement to the display ofwinning hands within one winning hand category while not adding thatenhancement to the display of any other hands. This enables the playerto easily distinguish winning hands of different winning hand categoriesfrom one another.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the gaming system is configured tooperate a card game and initiates a play of the card game. For the playof the card game, the gaming system displays a plurality of initialhands of cards. The gaming system receives at least one hand formationinput from a player. The gaming system forms and displays a completehand of cards for each of the initial hands. For each of the completehands, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms awinning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winninghand categories. The gaming system determines whether at least one ofthe complete hands forms a winning hand associated with one of thedifferent winning hand categories.

If at least one of the complete hands forms a winning hand associatedwith one of the different winning hand categories, for each of thecomplete hands that forms one of the winning hands, the gaming systemdisplays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand.The gaming system receives a selection of one of the displayed winninghand categories. The gaming system: (a) adds an enhancement to thedisplay of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any complete hand that does not form a winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category, (b) deemphasizes thedisplay of any complete hand that does not form a winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category without deemphasizingthe display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associatedwith the selected winning hand category, or (c) both (a) and (b).

Thus, in various embodiments, the gaming system of the presentdisclosure is configured to provide new, exciting, and engagingvariations of card games that facilitate game play and increase playerenjoyment and entertainment.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a screenshot of a prior art gaming system operatingOne Hundred Play Video Poker.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an exampleembodiment of the gaming system of the present disclosure including anenhanced winning hand display feature.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 3H, and 3I illustrate screen shots ofan example gaming system of the present disclosure operating amufti-hand Jacks or Better Five Card Draw Poker game and including awinning hand brightening enhanced winning hand display feature.

FIG. 4 illustrates a screen shot of another example gaming system of thepresent disclosure including a whining hand enlargement enhanced winninghand display feature.

FIG. 5A is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a networkconfiguration of the gaming system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram of an example electronicconfiguration of the gaming system of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of example alternative embodimentsof the gaming system of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Enhanced Winning Hand Display Feature

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gamingsystem and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature.While the enhanced winning hand display feature of the presentdisclosure is described and employed in association with a primary gamein the embodiments described below, it should be appreciated that theenhanced winning hand display feature may additionally or alternativelybe employed in association with a secondary game or a bonus game.Moreover, while the credit balances, the wagers, and the awards are eachdisplayed as an amount of monetary credits or currency in theembodiments described below, one or more of such credit balances, suchwagers, and such awards may be for non-monetary credits, promotionalcredits, and/or player tracking points or credits.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of an example process or method 100 ofoperating the gaming system of the present disclosure. In variousembodiments, process 100 is represented by a set of instructions storedin one or more memories and executed by one or more processors. Althoughprocess 100 is described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.2, it should be appreciated that many other processes of performing theacts associated with this illustrated process may be employed. Forexample, the order of certain of the illustrated blocks and/or diamondsmay be changed, certain of the illustrated blocks and/or diamonds may beoptional, and/or certain of the illustrated blocks and/or diamonds maynot be employed.

In this example, the gaming system is configured to operate a card gameand initiates a play of the card game for a player, as indicated byblock 102. For the play of the card game, the gaming system displays aplurality of initial hands of cards, as indicated by block 104. Thegaming system receives at least one hand formation input from theplayer, as indicated by block 106. The gaming system forms and displaysa complete hand of cards for each of the initial hands, as indicated byblock 108.

For each of the complete hands, the gaming system determines whetherthat complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of aplurality of different winning hand categories, as indicated by block110. The gaming system determines whether at least one of the completehands forms a winning hand associated with one of the different winninghand categories, as indicated by diamond 112. If none of the completehands form any of the winning hands associated with any of the differentwinning hand categories, the gaming system ends the play of the cardgame, as indicated by block 114.

If, on the other hand, at least one of the complete hands forms awinning hand associated with one of the different winning handcategories, for each of the complete hands that forms one of the winninghands, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associatedwith that winning hand, as indicated by block 116. The gaming systemreceives a selection of one of the displayed winning hand categories, asindicated by block 118. The gaming system adds an enhancement to thedisplay of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any complete hand that does not form a winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category, as indicated byblock 120.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 3H, and 3I illustrate screen shots ofone example embodiment of the gaming system of the present disclosureoperating a multi-hand Jacks or Better Five Card Draw Poker gameincluding an example of the enhanced winning hand display feature. Inthis example, the multi-hand poker game is associated with twenty-fivehands. The gaming system displays, such as on a display device 1116 or1118 (as described below), a primary hand display area 205 a andtwenty-four additional hand display areas 205 b, 205 c, 205 d, 205 e,205 f, 205 g, 205 h, 205 i, 205 j, 205 k, 205 l, 205 m, 205 n, 205 o,205 p, 205 q, 205 r, 205 s, 205 t, 205 u, 205 v, 205 w, 205 x, and 205y. The gaming system also displays a plurality of displays or metersincluding: a credit meter 272 that displays a player's credit balance; awager display 274 that displays any wagers placed on a play of themulti-hand poker game; an award display 276 that displays any awards wonfor a play of the multi-hand poker game; and a message box 260 thatdisplays messages or indications before, during, or after play of themulti-hand poker game. While in this illustrated example the gamingsystem indicates the player's credit balance, the player's wager, andany awards provided to the player in the form of amounts of credits, itshould be appreciated that such indications may alternatively oradditionally be made in the form of amounts of currency.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the gaming system receives value, such ascurrency (or its equivalent), from the player. In this example, thegaming system provides the player 5,250 credits, which represents thereceived value. The gaming system subsequently receives a wager of 10credits on each of the twenty-five hands for a total wager of 250credits for a play of the multi-hand poker game. The gaming systemdisplays the player's total wager of 250 credits in wager display 274,The gaming system displays the player's total remaining credit balanceof 5,000 credits (i.e., the player's initial credit balance of 5,250credits minus the player's wager of 250 credits) in credit meter 272.The gaming system displays the following message in message box 260:“YOU DEPOSITED 5,250 CREDITS AND WAGERED 10 CREDITS ON EACH OFTWENTY-FIVE HANDS, PLEASE WAIT FOR THE CARDS OF YOUR PRIMARY HAND TO BEDEALT.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the gaming system determines and displays aprimary hand 210 a of five cards including A♥A♦K

2♦4

. In this example, the gaming system enables the player to choose noneof, one of, a plurality of but less than all of, or all of the cards ofthe primary hand to hold. As described below, the gaming system discardsany non-held cards from the primary hand and replaces any discardedcards with replacement cards. The gaming system displays the followingmessage in message box 260: “PLEASE SELECT WHICH CARDS, IF ANY, TO HOLD.EACH OF THE TWENTY-FOUR ADDITIONAL HANDS WILL ALSO INCLUDE ANY HELDCARDS.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the gaming system receives a selection of theA♥, A♦, and K

, and designates those cards as held cards. The gaming system displays aplurality of incomplete additional hands 210 b, 210 c, 210 d, 210 e, 210f, 210 g, 210 h, 210 i, 210 j, 210 k, 210 l, 210 m, 210 n, 210 o, 210 p,210 q, 210 r, 210 s, 210 t, 210 u, 210 v, 210 w, 210 x, and 210 y eachincluding the A♥, A♦, and K

at additional hand display areas 205 b, 205 c, 205 d, 205 e, 205 f, 205g, 205 h, 205 i, 205 j, 205 k, 205 l, 205 m, 205 n, 205 o, 205 p, 205 q,205 r, 205 s, 205 t, 205 u, 205 v, 205 w, 205 x, and 205 y,respectively. The gaming system displays the following message inmessage box 260: “YOU HELD THE A♥, A♦, and K

. PLEASE WAIT WHILE TWO CARDS ARE RANDOMLY SELECTED AND ADDED TO EACH OFTHE TWENTY-FIVE HANDS.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3D, in this example, with respect to primary hand210 a, the gaming system forms a complete primary hand by randomlydetermining replacement cards A and K and replacing the discarded (i.e.,non-held) 2♦ and 4

with the A and K. In this example, for each of the incomplete additionalhands, the gaming system completes that additional hand by randomlydetermining two additional cards and adding those two additional cardsto that incomplete additional hand to form a complete additional hand.In this example, the gaming system selects the additional cards used tocomplete the additional hands from separate decks. That is, in thisexample, each additional hand is associated with a separate deck fromwhich the gaming system selects the additional cards to add to thatadditional hand. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments theincomplete additional hands may be completed in any suitable manner.

In this example, the gaming system randomly determines additional cardsto complete each of the twenty-four additional hands such that:additional hand 210 b includes A♥ A♦ K

2

3♦, additional hand 210 c includes A♥ A♦ K

Q♥ Q♦, additional hand 210 d includes A♥ A♦ K

4♦ K♥, additional hand 210 e includes A♥ A♦ K

6

8

, additional hand 210 f includes A♥ A♦ K

7

9

, additional hand 210 g includes A♥ A♦ K

10♦ 10♥, additional hand 210 h includes A♥ A♦ K

K♥ K

, additional hand 210 i includes A♥ A♦ K

7

A

, additional hand 210 j includes A♥ A♦ K

6

4♦, additional hand 210 k includes A♥ A♦ K

9

10♦, additional hand 210 l includes A♥ A♦ K

J♦8

, additional hand 210 m includes A♥ A♦ K

2

5♦, additional hand 210 n includes A♥ A♦ K

2♥2

, additional hand 210 o includes A♥ A♦ K

A

A

, additional hand 210 p includes A♥ A♦ K

Q♥ J

, additional hand 210 q includes A♥ A♦ K

J

10♦, additional hand 210 r includes A♥ A♦ K

A

6♦, additional hand 210 s includes A♥ A♦ K

8

5♥, additional hand 210 t includes A♥ A♦ K

8

8♥, additional hand 210 u includes A♥ A♦ K

9♥ 7

, additional hand 210 v includes A♥ A♦ K

4

9♥, additional hand 210 w includes A♥ A♦ K

J

10♦, additional hand 210 x includes A♥ A♦ K

4

10♦, and additional hand 210 y includes A♥ A♦ K

4

4♥.

The gaming system determines, for each of the twenty-five completehands, whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated withone of a plurality of different winning hand categories. The gamingsystem also determines an award for each of the complete hands thatforms one of the winning hands associated with one of the differentwinning hand categories. Table 2 below lists the different winning handcategories, an example winning hand for each of the different winninghand categories, and the award associated with each winning handcategory for this example multi-hand poker game.

TABLE 2 Winning Hand Categories, Example Winning Hands, and Awards forExample Jacks or Better Five Card Draw Poker Award (Wager Winning HandExample Winning of 10 Credits Category Hand Per Hand) Royal Flush A 

 K 

 Q 

 J 

 10 

2,500 credits   Straight Flush 10 

 9 

 8 

 7 

 6 

500 credits  Four of a Kind J 

 J♥ J♦J 

 3 

250 credits  Full House A♥ A♦ A 

 6♦ 6 

90 credits Flush A 

 J 

 8 

 6 

 2 

60 credits Straight 8♦ 7 

 6 

 5 

 4 

40 credits Three of a Kind Q 

 Q♥ Q♦ 6♦ 2 

30 credits Two Pair 8♦ 8♥ 5♥ 5 

 2 

20 credits Jacks or Better K♦ K 

 8 

 7 

 2♥ 10 credits

In this example, the gaming system determines that: (a) complete hands210 b, 210 e, 210 f, 210 j, 210 k, 210 l, 210 m, 210 p, 210 q, 210 s,210 u, 210 v, 210 w, and 210 x form winning hands associated with theJacks or Better winning hand category; (b) complete hands 210 c, 210 d,210 g, 210 n, 210 t, and 210 y form winning hands associated with theTwo Pair winning hand category; (c) complete hands 210 i and 210 r formwinning hands associated with the Three of a Kind winning hand category;(d) complete hands 210 a and 210 h form winning hands associated withthe Full House winning hand category; and (e) complete hand 210 o formsa winning hand associated with the Four of a Kind winning hand category.

As noted above, for each of the complete hands that forms a winning handassociated with one of the different winning hand categories, the gamingsystem determines an award for that winning hand. In this example, thegaming system determines: (a) an award of 10 credits for each ofcomplete hands 210 b, 210 e, 210 f, 210 j, 210 k, 210 l, 210 m, 210 p,210 q, 210 s, 210 u, 210 v, 210 w, and 210 x, which form winning handsassociated with the Jacks or Better winning hand category; (b) an awardof 20 credits for each of complete hands 210 c, 210 d, 210 g, 210 n, 210t, and 210 y, which form winning hands associated with the Two Pairwinning hand category; (c) an award of 30 credits for each of completehands 210 i and 210 r, which form winning hands associated with theThree of a Kind winning hand category; (d) an award of 90 credits foreach of complete hands 210 a and 210 h, which form winning handsassociated with the Full House winning hand category; and (d) an awardof 250 credits for complete hand 210 o, which forms a winning handassociated with the Four of a Kind winning hand category. The gamingsystem displays the total 750 credit award in award meter 276, andupdates the player's credit balance to reflect the 750 credit award(i.e., updates the player's credit balance from 5,000 credits to 5,750credits to reflect the 750 credit award).

For each of the complete hands that forms one of the winning handsassociated with one of the different winning hand categories, the gamingsystem displays the award for that winning hand (i.e., the awardassociated with that winning hand category) in association with thatcomplete hand. Thus, in this example, the gaming system displays: (a)the award of 10 credits associated with the Jacks or Better winning handcategory in association with complete hands 210 b, 210 e, 210 f; 210 j,210 k, 210 l, 210 m, 210 p, 210 q, 210 s, 210 u, 210 v, 210 w, and 210x; (b) the award of 20 credits associated with the Two Pair winning handcategory in association with complete hands 210 c, 210 d, 210 g, 210 n,210 t, and 210 y; (c) the award of 30 credits associated with the Threeof a Kind winning hand category in association with complete hands 210 iand 210 r; (d) the award of 90 credits associated with the Full Housewinning hand category in association with complete hands 210 a and 210h; and (e) the award of 250 credits associated with the Four of a Kindwinning hand category in association with complete hand 210 o.

Additionally, for each of the complete hands that forms a winning hand,the gaming system displays a representation of the winning hand categoryassociated with that winning hand. In this example, the gaming systemalso displays a quantity of the complete hands that form winning handassociated with that winning hand category in association with thedisplayed representation of the winning hand category. In this example,the gaming system displays: (a) a representation 220 a of the Jacks orBetter winning hand category and the number fourteen, which representsthe quantity of complete hands that form a winning hand associated withthe Jacks or Better winning hand category, in association with displayedrepresentation 220 a of the Jacks or Better winning hand category; (b) arepresentation 220 b of the Two Pair winning hand category and thenumber six, which represents the quantity of complete hands that form awinning hand associated with the Two Pair winning hand category, inassociation with displayed representation 220 b of the Two Pair winninghand category; (c) a representation 220 c of the Three of a Kind winninghand category and the number two, which represents the quantity ofcomplete hands that form a winning hand associated with the Three of aKind winning hand category, in association with displayed representation220 c of the Three of a Kind winning hand category; (d) a representation220 d of the Full House winning hand category and the number two, whichrepresents the quantity of complete hands that form a winning handassociated with the Full House winning hand category, in associationwith displayed representation 220 d of the Full House winning handcategory: and (e) a representation 220 e of the Four of a Kind winninghand category and the number one, which represents the quantity ofcomplete hands that form a winning hand associated with the Four of aKind winning hand category, in association with displayed representation220 e of the Four of a Kind winning hand category.

The gaming system enables the player to select one or more of thedisplayed representations of the different winning hand categories tocause the gaming system to add an enhancement to the display of thecomplete hands that form winning hands associated with the selectedwinning hand category. In this example, the gaming system includes atouch screen (as described below) and enables the player to select oneor more of the displayed representations of the different winning handcategories by touching those displayed representations of the differentwinning hand categories. It should be appreciated that the gaming systemmay enable the player to select one or more of the displayedrepresentations of the different winning hand categories in any othersuitable manner, such as via a dedicated physical button or a secondarytouch screen.

In this example, the gaming system: (a) adds an enhancement to thedisplay of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any complete hand that does not form a winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category, and (b) deemphasizesthe display of any complete hand that does not form a winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category without deemphasizingthe display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associatedwith the selected winning hand category. The gaming system displays thefollowing message in message box 260: “CONGRATULATIONS, YOU WIN 750CREDITS! TOUCH ONE OF THE WINING HAND CATEGORIES TO HIGHLIGHT YOURWINNING HANDS IN THAT CATEGORY”.

As illustrated in FIG. 3E, at this point in time, the gaming systemreceives a selection of displayed representation 220 a of the Jacks orBetter winning hand category. Accordingly, the gaming system: (a) addsan enhancement to the display of the complete hands that form winninghands associated with the Jacks or Better winning hand category withoutadding that enhancement to the display of any of the other completehands, and (b) deemphasizes the display of any complete hand that doesnot form a winning hand associated with the Jacks or Better winning handcategory without deemphasizing the display of any complete hand thatforms a winning hand associated with the Jacks or Better winning handcategory. In this example, the gaming system adds an enhancement bybrightening the display of the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the Jacks or Better winning hand category, anddeemphasizes the other complete hands by dimming the display of all ofthose complete hands. Here, the gaming system brightens the display ofcomplete hands 210 b, 210 e, 210 f, 210 j, 210 k, 210 l, 210 m, 210 p,210 q, 210 s, 210 u, 210 v, 210 w, and 210 x, which form winning handsassociated with the Jacks or Better winning hand category, and dims thedisplay of the remaining complete hands (i.e., all of the complete handsthat do not form winning hands associated with the Jacks or Betterwinning hand category), The gaming system displays the following messagein message box 260: “YOUR JACKS OR BETTER WINNING HANDS AREHIGHLIGHTED.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3F, at this point in time, the gaming systemreceives a selection of displayed representation 220 b of the Two Pairwinning hand category. Accordingly, the gaming system: (a) adds anenhancement to the display of the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the Two Pair winning hand category without adding thatenhancement to the display of any of the other complete hands, and (b)deemphasizes the display of any complete hand that does not form awinning hand associated with the Two Pair winning hand category withoutdeemphasizing the display of any complete hand that forms a winning handassociated with the Two Pair winning hand category. Here, the gamingsystem brightens the display of complete hands 210 c, 210 d, 210 g, 210n, 210 t, and 210 y, which form winning hands associated with the TwoPair winning hand category, and dims the display of the remainingcomplete hands (i.e., all of the complete hands that do not form winninghands associated with the Two Pair winning hand category). The gamingsystem displays the following message in message box 260: “YOUR TWO PAIRWINNING HANDS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3G, at this point in time, the gaming systemreceives a selection of displayed representation 220 c of the Three of aKind winning hand category. Accordingly, the gaming system: (a) adds anenhancement to the display of the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the Three of a Kind winning hand category without addingthat enhancement to the display of any of the other complete hands, and(h) deemphasizes the display of any complete hand that does not form awinning hand associated with the Three of a Kind winning hand categorywithout deemphasizing the display of any complete hand that forms awinning hand associated with the Three of a Kind winning hand category.Here, the gaming system brightens the display of complete hands 210 iand 210 r, which form winning hands associated with the Three of a Kindwinning hand category, and dims the display of the remaining completehands (i.e., all of the complete hands that do not form winning handsassociated with the Three of a Kind winning hand category). The gamingsystem displays the following message in message box 260: “YOUR THREE OFA KIND WINNING HANDS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3H, at this point in time, the gaming systemreceives a selection of displayed representation 220 d of the Full Housewinning hand category. Accordingly, the gaming system: (a) adds anenhancement to the display of the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the Full House winning hand category without adding thatenhancement to the display of any of the other complete hands, and (b)deemphasizes the display of any complete hand that does not form awinning hand associated with the Full House winning hand categorywithout deemphasizing the display of any complete hand that forms awinning hand associated with the Full House winning hand category. Here,the gaming system brightens the display of complete hands 210 a and 210h, which form winning hands associated with the Full House winning handcategory, and dims the display of the remaining complete hands (i.e.,all of the complete hands that do not form winning hands associated withthe Full House winning hand category). The gaming system displays thefollowing message in message box 260: “YOUR FULL HOUSE WINNING HANDS AREHIGHLIGHTED.”

As illustrated in FIG. 3I, at this point in time, the gaming systemreceives a selection of displayed representation 220 e of the Four of aKind winning hand category. Accordingly, the gaming system: (a) adds anenhancement to the display of the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the Four of a Kind winning hand category without addingthat enhancement to the display of any of the other complete hands, and(b) deemphasizes the display of any complete hand that does not form awinning hand associated with the Four of a Kind winning hand categorywithout deemphasizing the display of any complete hand that forms awinning hand associated with the Four of a Kind winning hand category.Here, the gaming system brightens the display of complete hand 210 o,which forms a winning hands associated with the Four of a Kind winninghand category, and dims the display of the remaining complete hands(i.e., all of the complete hands that do not form winning handsassociated with the Four of a Kind winning hand category). The gamingsystem displays the following message in message box 260: “YOUR FOUR OFA KIND WINNING HAND IS HIGHLIGHTED.”

It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments, the gaming systemis configured to: (a) add an enhancement to the display of the completehands that form winning hands associated with the selected winning handcategory without adding that enhancement to the display of any of theother complete hands, (b) deemphasize the display of any complete handthat does not form a winning hand associated with the selected winninghand category without deemphasizing the display of any of the completehands that form winning hands associated with the selected winning handcategory, or (c) both (a) and (b). It should also be appreciated thatthe gaming system may do so in any suitable manner or manners, such asany of those described below, or any suitable combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the gaming system deemphasizes the display of anycomplete hand that does not form a winning hand associated with theselected winning hand category without deemphasizing the display of anyof the other complete hands by dimming the display of all of thecomplete hands that do not form winning hands associated with theselected winning hand category without dimming the display of any of thecomplete hands that form winning hands associated with the selectedwinning hand category. That is, in this embodiment, the gaming systemdoes not also add an enhancement to the complete hands that form winninghands associated with the selected winning hand category (though thegaming system does so in other embodiments).

In another embodiment, the gaming system adds an enhancement to thedisplay of the complete hands that form winning hands associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any of the other complete hands by increasing the size ofthe complete hands that form winning hands associated with the selectedwinning hand category without increasing the size of the other completehands. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of one such embodiment. In thisexample, the gaming system increases the size of the display of thewinning hand associated with the selected Four of a Kind winning handcategory without increasing the size of the other complete hands.

In another embodiment, the gaming system deemphasizes the display of anycomplete hand that does not form a winning hand associated with theselected winning hand category without deemphasizing the display of anyof the other complete hands by decreasing the size of the complete handsthat do not form winning hands associated with the selected winning handcategory without decreasing the size of the complete hands that formwinning hands associated with the selected winning hand category.

In another embodiment, the gaming system adds an enhancement to thedisplay of the complete hands that form winning hands associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any of the other complete hands by displaying thecomplete hands that form winning hands associated with the selectedwinning hand category on a secondary or additional display device, suchas display device 1118 (described below), without displaying the othercomplete hands on the secondary or additional display device.

In another embodiment, the gaming system adds an enhancement to thedisplay of the complete hands that form winning hands associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any of the other complete hands by displaying ananimation in association with the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the selected winning hand category without displayingthat animation in association with the other complete hands. In oneexample, each winning hand category is associated with a different oneof a plurality of different animations.

In another embodiment, the gaming system adds an enhancement to thedisplay of the complete hands that form winning hands associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding that enhancement tothe display of any of the other complete hands by producing a sound inassociation with the complete hands that form winning hands associatedwith the selected winning hand category without producing that sound inassociation with the other complete hands. In one example, each winninghand category is associated with a different one of a plurality ofdifferent sounds.

In various embodiments, instead of or in addition to enabling the playerto select one or more of the displayed representations of the winninghand categories, the gaming system includes an “auto-cycle” modeconfigured to cause the gaming system to automatically sequentiallyselect the winning hand categories. For instance, when the “auto-cycle”mode is initiated, the gaming system selects a first one of the winninghand categories and adds an enhancement to the display of the completehands that form winning hands associated with the selected winningcategory, then selects a second one of the winning hand categories andadds an enhancement to the display of the complete hands that formwinning hands associated with the selected winning category, and so onuntil all of the displayed representations of the winning handcategories have been selected.

In one such embodiment, the gaming system automatically initiates the“auto-cycle” mode after a designated time period has expired followingthe display of the complete hands. In another such embodiment, thegaming system enables the player to set the “auto-cycle” mode to defaultsuch that the gaming system automatically initiates the “auto-cycle”mode after the complete hands have been displayed. In another suchembodiment, the gaming system enables the player to cause the gamingsystem to stop the “auto-cycle,” such as by making a designated input.

In certain embodiments, instead of (or in addition to) displayingrepresentations of winning hand categories, the gaming system displaysrepresentations of different award ranges and enables the player toselect one or more of the displayed representations of award ranges tocause the gaining system to add an enhancement to the display of thecomplete hands that form winning hands associated with an award withinthe selected award range without adding that enhancement to any of theother displayed hands. Alternatively or additionally, the gaming systemdeemphasizes the complete hands that form winning hands associated withan award outside of the selected award range without deemphasizing thecomplete hands that form winning hands associated with an award withinthe selected award range. For instance, if the selected award range is100 to 200 credits, the gaming system adds an enhancement to the displayof the complete hands that form winning hands associated with awardsbetween 100 and 200 credits without adding the enhancement to any of theother complete hands. In one such embodiments, the gaming system enablesthe player to customize the award ranges.

In other embodiments, instead of (or in addition to) displayingrepresentations of winning hand categories, the gaming system displaysrepresentations of different awards and enables the player to select oneor more of the displayed representations of awards to cause the gamingsystem to add an enhancement to the display of the complete hands thatform winning hands associated with the selected award without addingthat enhancement to any of the other displayed hands. Alternatively oradditionally, the gaming system deemphasizes the complete hands thatform winning hands associated with an award different from the selectedaward without deemphasizing the complete hands that form winning handsassociated with the selected award. For instance, if the selected awardis 250 credits, the gaming system adds an enhancement to the display ofthe complete hands that form winning hands associated with awards of 250credits without adding the enhancement to any of the other completehands.

While the multi-hand card game in the embodiments described above isJacks or Better Five Card Draw Poker, it should be appreciated that anysuitable card game may be employed, such as (but not limited to): DoubleBonus Poker, Double Bonus Deuces Wild Poker, Double Double Aces & FacesPoker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Plus Poker, DoubleJoker Poker, Joke Poker Kings, Joker Poker Aces, Joker Poker Two Pair,Nevada Bonus Poker, One-Eyed Jacks Poker, Royal Aces Bonus Poker, SevensWild Poker, Super Aces Bonus Poker, Super Bonus Deuces Wild Poker, SuperDouble Bonus Poker, Super Double Double Bonus Poker, Tens or BetterPoker, Triple Bonus Poker, Triple Bonus Plus Poker, Triple Double BonusPoker, USA Poker, White Hot Aces Poker, Ace & Deuce Bonus Poker, Aces &Eights Poker, Aces & Faces Poker, Acey Deucey Poker, Blackjack BonusPoker, Bonus Deluxe Poker, Bonus Deuces Wild Poker, Bonus Poker, DeucesWild Poker, Deuces & Joker Poker, Double Aces & Faces Poker, or DoubleAcey Deucey Poker.

Additionally, while the multi-hand card game in the embodimentsdescribed above includes twenty-five hands (i.e., one primary hand andtwenty-four additional hands), it should be appreciated that the cardgame may be associated with any suitable quantity of hands, such asfifty hands or one hundred hands (e.g., Fifty Play Video Poker or OneHundred Play Video Poker).

It should be appreciated that the enhancements of the present disclosuremay be added in addition to any other enhancements to the displays ofthe complete hands that form winning hands associated with the selectedwinning hand category. For instance, the enhancements of the presentdisclosure are added in addition to any color displayed in associationwith the complete hands forming winning hands associated with theselected winning hand category. In another example, the enhancements ofthe present disclosure are displayed in addition to any award amountdisplayed in association with the complete hands forming winning handsassociated with the selected winning hand category.

It should be appreciated that the present disclosure contemplatesemploying an enhanced winning payline display feature in associationwith a slot game associated with a plurality of paylines in a mannersimilar to that described above with respect to the use of the enhancedwinning hand display feature in association with a card game. In theseembodiments, the gaming system initiates a play of the slot game anddisplays a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol display areas,Each of the paylines is associated with a different plurality of thesymbol display areas. The gaming system determines, for each of thepaylines, whether the symbols displayed at the symbol display areasassociated with that payline form one of a plurality of differentwinning symbol combinations.

The gaming system enables the player to select one of the displayedpaylines along which a winning symbol combination is displayed to add anenhancement to the display of the symbols included in that winningsymbol combination without adding that enhancement to the display of anyof the other symbols. Alternatively or additionally, the gaming systemdeemphasizes the symbols that are not included in that winning symbolcombination without deemphasizing the symbols included in that winningsymbol combination. In one example, when the player selects one of thepaylines, the gaming system brightens the display of the symbols thatform the winning symbol combination displayed along that payline anddims the display of all of the other symbols. In another example, whenthe player selects one of the paylines, the gaming system dims thedisplay of all of the symbols that do not form the winning symbolcombination displayed along that payline without also brightening thesymbols that form that winning symbol combination.

Gaming Systems

It should be appreciated that the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be implemented in accordance with or inconjunction with one or more of a variety of different types of gamingsystems, such as, but not limited to, those described below.

The present disclosure contemplates a variety of different gamingsystems each having one or more of a plurality of different features,attributes, or characteristics. It should be appreciated that a “gamingsystem” as used herein refers to various configurations of: (a) one ormore central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (b) one ormore electronic gaming machines (EGMs); and/or (c) one or more personalgaming devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tabletcomputers or computing devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs),mobile telephones such as smart phones, and other mobile computingdevices.

Thus, in various embodiments, the gaming system of the presentdisclosure includes: (a) one or more EGMs in combination with one ormore central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (b) one ormore personal gaming devices in combination with one or more centralservers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (c) one or more personalgaming devices in combination with one or more EGMs; (d) one or morepersonal gaming devices, one or more EGMs, and one or more centralservers, central controllers, or remote hosts in combination with oneanother; (e) a single EGM; (f) a plurality of EGMs in combination withone another; (g) a single personal gaming device; (h) a plurality ofpersonal gaming devices in combination with one another; (i) a singlecentral server, central controller, or remote host; and/or (j) aplurality of central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts incombination with one another.

For brevity and clarity, each EGM and each personal gaming device of thepresent disclosure is collectively referred to herein as an “EGM.”Additionally, for brevity and clarity, unless specifically statedotherwise, “EGM” as used herein represents one EGM or a plurality ofEGMs, and “central server, central controller, or remote host” as usedherein represents one central server, central controller, or remote hostor a plurality of central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the gaming system includes anEGM in combination with a central server, central controller, or remotehost. In such embodiments, the EGM is configured to communicate with thecentral server, central controller, or remote host through a datanetwork or remote communication link. In certain such embodiments, theEGM is configured to communicate with another EGM through the same datanetwork or remote communication link or through a different data networkor remote communication link. For example, the gaming system illustratedin FIG. 4A includes a plurality of EGMs 1010 that are each configured tocommunicate with a central server, central controller, or remote host1056 through a data network 1058.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes an EGM incombination with a central server, central controller, or remote host,the central server, central controller, or remote host is any suitablecomputing device (such as a server) that includes at least one processorand at least one memory device or storage device. As further describedbelow, the EGM includes at least one EGM processor configured totransmit and receive data or signals representing events, messages,commands, or any other suitable information between the EGM and thecentral server, central controller, or remote host. The at least oneprocessor of that EGM is configured to execute the events, messages, orcommands represented by such data or signals in conjunction with theoperation of the EGM. Moreover, the at least one processor of thecentral server, central controller, or remote host is configured totransmit and receive data or signals representing events, messages,commands, or any other suitable information between the central server,central controller, or remote host and the EGM. The at least oneprocessor of the central server, central controller, or remote host isconfigured to execute the events, messages, or commands represented bysuch data or signals in conjunction with the operation of the centralserver, central controller, or remote host. It should be appreciatedthat one, more, or each of the functions of the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host may be performed by the at least oneprocessor of the EGM. It should be further appreciated that one, more,or each of the functions of the at least one processor of the EGM may beperformed by the at least one processor of the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host.

In certain such embodiments, computerized instructions for controllingany games (such as any primary or base games and/or any secondary orbonus games) displayed by the EGM are executed by the central server,central controller, or remote host. In such “thin client” embodiments,the central server, central controller, or remote host remotely controlsany games (or other suitable interfaces) displayed by the EGM, and theEGM is utilized to display such games (or suitable interfaces) and toreceive one or more inputs or commands. In other such embodiments,computerized instructions for controlling any games displayed by the EGMare communicated from the central server, central controller, or remotehost to the EGM and are stored in at least one memory device of the EGM.In such “thick client” embodiments, the at least one processor of theEGM executes the computerized instructions to control any games (orother suitable interfaces) displayed by the EGM.

In various embodiments in which the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs, one or more of the EGMs are thin client EGMs and one or more ofthe EGMs are thick client EGMs. In other embodiments in which the gamingsystem includes one or more EGMs, certain functions of one or more ofthe EGMs are implemented in a thin client environment, and certain otherfunctions of one or more of the EGMs are implemented in a thick clientenvironment. In one such embodiment in which the gaming system includesan EGM and a central server, central controller, or remote host,computerized instructions for controlling any primary or base gamesdisplayed by the EGM are communicated from the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host to the EGM in a thick client configuration,and computerized instructions for controlling any secondary or bonusgames or other functions displayed by the EGM are executed by thecentral server, central controller, or remote host in a thin clientconfiguration.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGMconfigured to communicate with a central server, central controller, orremote host through a data network; and/or (b) a plurality of EGMsconfigured to communicate with one another through a data network, thedata network is a local area network (LAN) in which the EGMs are locatedsubstantially proximate to one another and/or the central server,central controller, or remote host. In one example, the EGMs and thecentral server, central controller, or remote host are located in agaming establishment or a portion of a gaming establishment.

In other embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGMconfigured to communicate with a central server, central controller, orremote host through a data network; and/or (b) a plurality of EGMsconfigured to communicate with one another through a data network, thedata network is a wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of theEGMs are not necessarily located substantially proximate to another oneof the EGMs and/or the central server, central controller, or remotehost. For example, one or more of the EGMs are located: (a) in an areaof a gaming establishment different from an area of the gamingestablishment in which the central server, central controller, or remotehost is located; or (b) in a gaming establishment different from thegaming establishment in which the central server, central controller, orremote host is located. In another example, the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host is not located within a gaming establishmentin which the EGMs are located. It should be appreciated that in certainembodiments in which the data network is a WAN, the gaming systemincludes a central server, central controller, or remote host and an EGMeach located in a different gaming establishment in a same geographicarea, such as a same city or a same state. It should be appreciated thatgaming systems in which the data network is a WAN are substantiallyidentical to gaming systems in which the data network is a LAN, thoughthe quantity of EGMs in such gaming systems may vary relative to oneanother.

In further embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGMconfigured to communicate with a central server, central controller, orremote host through a data network; and/or (b) a plurality of EGMsconfigured to communicate with one another through a data network, thedata network is an internet or an intranet. In certain such embodiments,an Internet browser of the EGM is usable to access an internet game pagefrom any location where an internet connection is available. In one suchembodiment, after the internet game page is accessed, the centralserver, central controller, or remote host identifies a player prior toenabling that player to place any wagers on any plays of any wageringgames. In one example, the central server, central controller, or remotehost identifies the player by requiring a player account of the playerto be logged into via an input of a unique username and passwordcombination assigned to the player. It should be appreciated, however,that the central server, central controller, or remote host may identifythe player in any other suitable manner, such as by validating a playertracking identification number associated with the player; by reading aplayer tracking card or other smart card inserted into a card reader (asdescribed below); by validating a unique player identification numberassociated with the player by the central server, central controller, orremote host; or by identifying the EGM, such as by identifying the MACaddress or the IP address of the internet facilitator. In variousembodiments, once the central server, central controller, or remote hostidentifies the player, the central server, central controller, or remotehost enables placement of one or more wagers on one or more plays of oneor more primary or base games and/or one or more secondary or bonusgames, and displays those plays via the internet browser of the EGM.

It should be appreciated that the central server, central controller, orremote host and the EGM are configured to connect to the data network orremote communications link in any suitable manner. In variousembodiments, such a connection is accomplished via: a conventional phoneline or other data transmission line, a digital subscriber line (DSL), aT-1 line, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a wireless or wiredrouting device, a mobile communications network connection (such as acellular network or mobile internet network), or any other suitablemedium. It should be appreciated that the expansion in the quantity ofcomputing devices and the quantity and speed of internet connections inrecent years increases opportunities for players to use a variety ofEGMs to play games from an ever-increasing quantity of remote sites. Itshould also be appreciated that the enhanced bandwidth of digitalwireless communications may render such technology suitable for some orall communications, particularly if such communications are encrypted.Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing thesophistication and response of the display and interaction with players.

EGM Components

In various embodiments, an EGM includes at least one processorconfigured to operate with at least one memory device, at least oneinput device, and at least one output device. The at least one processormay be any suitable processing device or set of processing devices, suchas a microprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, a suitableintegrated circuit, or one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs). FIG. 4B illustrates an example EGM including aprocessor 1012.

As generally noted above, the at least one processor of the EGM isconfigured to communicate with, configured to access, and configured toexchange signals with at least one memory device or data storage device.In various embodiments, the at least one memory device of the EGMincludes random access memory (RAM), which can include non-volatile RAM(NVRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and other formsas commonly understood in the gaming industry. In other embodiments, theat least one memory device includes read only memory (ROM). In certainembodiments, the at least one memory device of the EGM includes flashmemory and/or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read onlymemory), The example EGM illustrated in FIG. 4B includes a memory device1014, It should be appreciated that any other suitable magnetic,optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate in conjunction with theEGM disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the at least one processorof the EGM and the at least one memory device of the EGM both residewithin a cabinet of the EGM (as described below). In other embodiments,at least one of the at least one processor of the EGM and the at leastone memory device of the EGM reside outside the cabinet of the EGM (asdescribed below).

In certain embodiments, as generally described above, the at least onememory device of the EGM stores program code and instructions executableby the at least one processor of the EGM to control the EGM. The atleast one memory device of the EGM also stores other operating data,such as image data, event data, input data, random number generators(RNGs) or pseudo-RNGs, paytable data or information, and/or applicablegame rules that relate to the play of one or more games on the EGM (suchas primary or base games and/or secondary or bonus games as describedbelow). In various embodiments, part or all of the program code and/orthe operating data described above is stored in at least one detachableor removable memory device including, but not limited to, a cartridge, adisk, a CD ROM, a DVD, a USB memory device, or any other suitablenon-transitory computer readable medium. In certain such embodiments, anoperator (such as a gaming establishment operator) and/or a player usessuch a removable memory device in an EGM to implement at least part ofthe present disclosure. In other embodiments, part or all of the programcode and/or the operating data is downloaded to the at least one memorydevice of the EGM through any suitable data network described above(such as an internet or intranet).

In various embodiments, the EGM includes one or more input devices. Theinput devices may include any suitable device that enables an inputsignal to be produced and received by the at least one processor of theEGM. The example EGM illustrated in FIG. 4B includes at least one inputdevice 1030. One input device of the EGM is a payment device configuredto communicate with the at least one processor of the EGM to fund theEGM. In certain embodiments, the payment device includes one or more of:(a) a bill acceptor into which paper money is inserted to fund the EGM;(b) a ticket acceptor into which a ticket or a voucher is inserted tofund the EGM; (c) a coin slot into which coins or tokens are inserted tofund the EGM; (d) a reader or a validator for credit cards, debit cards,or credit slips into which a credit card, debit card, or credit slip isinserted to fund the EGM; (e) a player identification card reader intowhich a player identification card is inserted to fund the EGM; or (f)any suitable combination thereof. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate exampleEGMs that each include the following payment devices: (a) a combinedbill and ticket acceptor 1128, and (b) a coin slot 1126.

In one embodiment, the EGM includes a payment device configured toenable the EGM to be funded via an electronic funds transfer, such as atransfer of funds from a bank account. In another embodiment, the EGMincludes a payment device configured to communicate with a mobile deviceof a player, such as a cell phone, a radio frequency identification tag,or any other suitable wired or wireless device, to retrieve relevantinformation associated with that player to fund the EGM. It should beappreciated that when the EGM is funded, the at least one processordetermines the amount of funds entered and displays the correspondingamount on a credit display or any other suitable display as describedbelow.

In various embodiments, one or more input devices of the EGM are one ormore game play activation devices that are each used to initiate a playof a game on the EGM or a sequence of events associated with the EGMfollowing appropriate funding of the EGM. The example EGMs illustratedin FIGS. 6A and 6B each include a game play activation device in theform of a game play initiation button 1132. It should be appreciatedthat, in other embodiments, the EGM begins game play automatically uponappropriate funding rather than upon utilization of the game playactivation device.

In certain embodiments, one or more input devices of the EGM are one ormore wagering or betting devices. One such wagering or betting device isas a maximum wagering or betting device that, when utilized, causes amaximum wager to be placed. Another such wagering or betting device is arepeat the bet device that, when utilized, causes the previously-placedwager to be placed. A further such wagering or betting device is a betone device. A bet is placed upon utilization of the bet one device. Thebet is increased by one credit each time the bet one device is utilized.Upon the utilization of the bet one device, a quantity of credits shownin a credit display (as described below) decreases by one, and a numberof credits shown in a bet display (as described below) increases by one.

In other embodiments, one input device of the EGM is a cash out device.The cash out device is utilized to receive a cash payment or any othersuitable form of payment corresponding to a quantity of remainingcredits of a credit display (as described below). The example EGMsillustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B each include a cash out device in theform of a cash out button 1134.

In certain embodiments, one input device of the EGM is a touch-screencoupled to a touch-screen controller or other touch-sensitive displayoverlay to enable interaction with any images displayed on a displaydevice (as described below). One such input device is a conventionaltouch-screen button panel. The touch-screen and the touch-screencontroller are connected to a video controller. In these embodiments,signals are input to the EGM by touching the touch screen at theappropriate locations.

In various embodiments, one input device of the EGM is a sensor, such asa camera, in communication with the at least one processor of the EGM(and controlled by the at least one processor of the EGM in someembodiments) and configured to acquire an image or a video of a playerusing the EGM and/or an image or a video of an area surrounding the EGM.

In embodiments including a player tracking system, as further describedbelow, one input device of the EGM is a card reader in communicationwith the at least one processor of the EGM. The example EGMs illustratedin FIGS. 6A and 6B each include a card reader 1138. The card reader isconfigured to read a player identification card inserted into the cardreader.

In various embodiments, the EGM includes one or more output devices. Theexample EGM illustrated in FIG. 4B includes at least one output device1060. One or more output devices of the EGM are one or more displaydevices configured to display any game(s) displayed by the EGM and anysuitable information associated with such game(s). In certainembodiments, the display devices are connected to or mounted on acabinet of the EGM (as described below). In various embodiments, thedisplay devices serves as digital glass configured to advertise certaingames or other aspects of the gaming establishment in which the EGM islocated. In various embodiments, the EGM includes one or more of thefollowing display devices: (a) a central display device; (b) a playertracking display configured to display various information regarding aplayer's player tracking status (as described below); (c) a secondary orupper display device in addition to the central display device and theplayer tracking display; (d) a credit display configured to display acurrent quantity of credits, amount of cash, account balance, or theequivalent; and (e) a bet display configured to display an amountwagered for one or more plays of one or more games. The example EGMillustrated in FIG. 6A includes a central display device 1116, a playertracking display 1140, a credit display 1120, and a bet display 1122.The example EGM illustrated in FIG. 6B includes a central display device1116, an upper display device 1118, a player tracking display 1140, aplayer tracking display 1140, a credit display 1120, and a bet display1122.

In various embodiments, the display devices include, without limitation:a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), adisplay based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), adisplay based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display basedon a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a displayincluding a projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitableelectronic device or display mechanism. In certain embodiments, asdescribed above, the display device includes a touch-screen with anassociated touch-screen controller. It should be appreciated that thedisplay devices may be of any suitable sizes, shapes, andconfigurations.

The display devices of the EGM are configured to display one or moregame and/or non-game images, symbols, and indicia. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayany suitable visual representation or exhibition of the movement ofobjects: dynamic lighting; video images; images of people, characters,places, things, and faces of cards; and the like. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayone or more video reels, one or more video wheels, and/or one or morevideo dice. In other embodiments, certain of the displayed images,symbols, and indicia are in mechanical form. That is, in theseembodiments, the display device includes any electromechanical device,such as one or more rotatable wheels, one or more reels, and/or one ormore dice, configured to display at least one or a plurality of game orother suitable images, symbols, or indicia.

In various embodiments, one output device of the EGM is a payout device.In these embodiments, when the cash out device is utilized as describedabove, the payout device causes a payout to be provided to the player.In one embodiment, the payout device is one or more of: (a) a ticketgenerator configured to generate and provide a ticket or credit sliprepresenting a payout, wherein the ticket or credit slip may be redeemedvia a cashier, a kiosk, or other suitable redemption system; (b) a notegenerator configured to provide paper currency; (c) a coin generatorconfigured to provide coins or tokens in a coin payout tray; and (d) anysuitable combination thereof. The example EGMs illustrated in FIGS. 6Aand 6B each include ticket generator 1136. In one embodiment, the EGMincludes a payout device configured to fund an electronically recordableidentification card or smart card or a bank account via an electronicfunds transfer.

In certain embodiments, one output device of the EGM is a soundgenerating device controlled by one or more sound cards. In one suchembodiment, the sound generating device includes one or more speakers orother sound generating hardware and/or software for generating sounds,such as by playing music for any games or by playing music for othermodes of the EGM, such as an attract mode. The example EGMs illustratedin FIGS. 6A and 6B each include a plurality of speakers 1150. In anothersuch embodiment, the EGM provides dynamic sounds coupled with attractivemultimedia images displayed on one or more of the display devices toprovide an audio-visual representation or to otherwise displayfull-motion video with sound to attract players to the EGM. In certainembodiments, the EGM displays a sequence of audio and/or visualattraction messages during idle periods to attract potential players tothe EGM. The videos may be customized to provide any appropriateinformation.

In various embodiments, the EGM includes a plurality of communicationports configured to enable the at least one processor of the EGM tocommunicate with and to operate with external peripherals, such as:accelerometers, arcade sticks, bar code readers, bill validators,biometric input devices, bonus devices, button panels, card readers,coin dispensers, coin hoppers, display screens or other displays orvideo sources, expansion buses, information panels, keypads, lights,mass storage devices, microphones, motion sensors, motors, printers,reels, SCSI ports, solenoids, speakers, thumbsticks, ticket readers,touch screens, trackballs, touchpads, wheels, and wireless communicationdevices. At least U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0254014describes a variety of EGMs including one or more communication portsthat enable the EGMs to communicate and operate with one or moreexternal peripherals.

As generally described above, in certain embodiments, such as theexample EGMs illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the EGM has a supportstructure, housing, or cabinet that provides support for a plurality ofthe input device and the output devices of the EGM. Further, the EGM isconfigured such that a player may operate it while standing or sitting.In various embodiments, the EGM is positioned on a base or stand, or isconfigured as a pub-style tabletop game (not shown) that a player mayoperate typically while sitting. As illustrated by the different exampleEGMs shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, EGMs may have varying cabinet and displayconfigurations.

It should be appreciated that, in certain embodiments, the EGM is adevice that has obtained approval from a regulatory gaming commission,and in other embodiments, the EGM is a device that has not obtainedapproval from a regulatory gaming commission.

As explained above, for brevity and clarity, both the EGMs and thepersonal gaming devices of the present disclosure are collectivelyreferred to herein as “EGMs.” Accordingly, it should be appreciated thatcertain of the example EGMs described above include certain elementsthat may not be included in all EGMs. For example, the payment device ofa personal gaming device such as a mobile telephone may not include acoin acceptor, while in certain instances the payment device of an EGMlocated in a gaming establishment may include a coin acceptor.

Operation of Primary or Base Games and/or Secondary or Bonus Games

In various embodiments, an EGM may be implemented in one of a variety ofdifferent configurations. In various embodiments, the EGM may beimplemented as one of: (a) a dedicated EGM wherein computerized gameprograms executable by the EGM for controlling any primary or base games(referred to herein as “primary games”) and/or any secondary or bonusgames or other functions (referred to herein as “secondary games”)displayed by the EGM are provided with the EGM prior to delivery to agaming establishment or prior to being provided to a player; and (b) achangeable EGM wherein computerized game programs executable by the EGMfor controlling any primary games and/or secondary games displayed bythe EGM are downloadable to the EGM through a data network or remotecommunication link after the EGM is physically located in a gamingestablishment or after the EGM is provided to a player.

As generally explained above, in various embodiments in which the gamingsystem includes a central server, central controller, or remote host anda changeable EGM, the at least one memory device of the central server,central controller, or remote host stores different game programs andinstructions executable by the at least one processor of the changeableEGM to control one or more primary games and/or secondary gamesdisplayed by the changeable EGM. More specifically, each such executablegame program represents a different game or a different type of gamethat the at least one changeable EGM is configured to operate. In oneexample, certain of the game programs are executable by the changeableEGM to operate games having the same or substantially the same game playbut different paytables. In different embodiments, each executable gameprogram is associated with a primary game, a secondary game, or both. Incertain embodiments, an executable game program is executable by the atleast one processor of the at least one changeable EGM as a secondarygame to be played simultaneously with a play of a primary game (whichmay be downloaded to or otherwise stored on the at least one changeableEGM), or vice versa.

In operation of such embodiments, the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host is configured to communicate one or more ofthe stored executable game programs to the at least one processor of thechangeable EGM. In different embodiments, a stored executable gameprogram is communicated or delivered to the at least one processor ofthe changeable EGM by: (a) embedding the executable game program in adevice or a component (such as a microchip to be inserted into thechangeable EGM); (b) writing the executable game program onto a disc orother media; or (c) uploading or streaming the executable game programover a data network (such as a dedicated data network). After theexecutable game program is communicated from the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host to the changeable EGM, the at least oneprocessor of the changeable EGM executes the executable game program toenable the primary game and/or the secondary game associated with thatexecutable game program to be played using the display device(s) and/orthe input device(s) of the changeable EGM. That is, when an executablegame program is communicated to the at least one processor of thechangeable EGM, the at least one processor of the changeable EGM changesthe game or the type of game that may be played using the changeableEGM.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system randomly determines any gameoutcome(s) (such as a win outcome) and/or award(s) (such as a quantityof credits to award for the win outcome) for a play of a primary gameand/or a play of a secondary game based on probability data. In certainsuch embodiments, this random determination is provided throughutilization of an RNG, such as a true RNG or a pseudo RNG, or any othersuitable randomization process. In one such embodiment, each gameoutcome or award is associated with a probability, and the gaming systemgenerates the game outcome(s) and/or the award(s) to be provided basedon the associated probabilities. In these embodiments, since the gamingsystem generates game outcomes and/or awards randomly or based on one ormore probability calculations, there is no certainty that the gainingsystem will ever provide any specific game outcome and/or award.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system maintains one or morepredetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes and/orawards. In certain such embodiments, upon generation or receipt of agame outcome and/or award request, the gaming system independentlyselects one of the predetermined game outcomes and/or awards from theone or more pools or sets. The gaming system flags or marks the selectedgame outcome and/or award as used. Once a game outcome or an award isflagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from itsrespective pool or set; that is, the gaming system does not select thatgame outcome or award upon another game outcome and/or award request.The gaming system provides the selected game outcome and/or award. Atleast U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,470,183; 7,563,163; and 7,833,092 and U.S. PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2005/0148382, 2006/0094509, and2009/0181743 describe various examples of this type of awarddetermination.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system determines a predeterminedgame outcome and/or award based on the results of a bingo, keno, orlottery game. In certain such embodiments, the gaming system utilizesone or more bingo, keno, or lottery games to determine the predeterminedgame outcome and/or award provided for a primary game and/or a secondarygame. The gaming system is provided or associated with a bingo card.Each bingo card consists of a matrix or array of elements, wherein eachelement is designated with separate indicia. After a bingo card isprovided, the gaming system randomly selects or draws a plurality of theelements. As each element is selected, a determination is made as towhether the selected element is present on the bingo card. If theselected element is present on the bingo card, that selected element onthe provided bingo card is marked or flagged. This process of selectingelements and marking any selected elements on the provided bingo cardscontinues until one or more predetermined patterns are marked on one ormore of the provided bingo cards. After one or more predeterminedpatterns are marked on one or more of the provided bingo cards, gameoutcome and/or award is determined based, at least in part, on theselected elements on the provided bingo cards. At least U.S. Pat. Nos.7,753,774; 7,731,581; 7,955,170; and 8,070,579 and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2011/0028201 describe various examples ofthis type of award determination.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes a centralserver, central controller, or remote host and an EGM, the EGM isconfigured to communicate with the central server, central controller,or remote host for monitoring purposes only. In such embodiments, theEGM determines the game outcome(s) and/or award(s) to be provided in anyof the manners described above, and the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host monitors the activities and events occurringon the EGM. In one such embodiment, the gaming system includes areal-time or online accounting and gaming information system configuredto communicate with the central server, central controller, or remotehost. In this embodiment, the accounting and gaming information systemincludes: (a) a player database for storing player profiles, (b) aplayer tracking module for tracking players (as described below), and(c) a credit system for providing automated transactions. At least U.S.Pat. No. 6,913,534 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006/0281541 describe various examples of such accounting systems.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the gaming system includes oneor more executable game programs executable by at least one processor ofthe gaming system to provide one or more primary games and one or moresecondary games. The primary game(s) and the secondary game(s) maycomprise any suitable games and/or wagering games, such as, but notlimited to: electro-mechanical or video slot or spinning reel typegames; video card games such as video draw poker, multi-hand video drawpoker, other video poker games, video blackjack games, and videobaccarat games; video keno games; video bingo games; and video selectiongames.

In certain embodiments in which the primary game is a slot or spinningreel type game, the gaming system includes one or more reels in eitheran electromechanical form with mechanical rotating reels or in a videoform with simulated reels and movement thereof. Each reel displays aplurality of indicia or symbols, such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers,letters, bars, or other images that typically correspond to a themeassociated with the gaming system. In certain such embodiments, thegaming system includes one or more paylines associated with the reels.The example EGM shown in FIG. 6B each includes a payline 1152 and aplurality of reels 1154. In certain embodiments, one or more of thereels are independent reels or unisymbol reels. In such embodiments,each independent reel generates and displays one symbol.

In various embodiments, one or more of the paylines is horizontal,vertical, circular, diagonal, angled, or any suitable combinationthereof. In other embodiments, each of one or more of the paylines isassociated with a plurality of adjacent symbol display areas on arequisite number of adjacent reels. In one such embodiment, one or morepaylines are formed between at least two symbol display areas that areadjacent to each other by either sharing a common side or sharing acommon corner (i.e., such paylines are connected paylines). The gamingsystem enables a wager to be placed on one or more of such paylines toactivate such paylines. In other embodiments in which one or morepaylines are formed between at least two adjacent symbol display areas,the gaming system enables a wager to be placed on a plurality of symboldisplay areas, which activates those symbol display areas.

In various embodiments, the gaming system provides one or more awardsafter a spin of the reels when specified types and/or configurations ofthe indicia or symbols on the reels occur on an active payline orotherwise occur in a winning pattern, occur on the requisite number ofadjacent reels, and/or occur in a scatter pay arrangement.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system employs a ways to win awarddetermination. In these embodiments, any outcome to be provided isdetermined based on a number of associated symbols that are generated inactive symbol display areas on the requisite number of adjacent reels(i.e., not on paylines passing through any displayed winning symbolcombinations). If a winning symbol combination is generated on thereels, one award for that occurrence of the generated winning symbolcombination is provided. At least U.S. Pat. No. 8,012,011 and U.S.Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0108408 and 2008/0132320describe various examples of ways to win award determinations.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a progressive award.Typically, a progressive award includes an initial amount and anadditional amount funded through a portion of each wager placed toinitiate a play of a primary game. When one or more triggering eventsoccurs, the gaming system provides at least a portion of the progressiveaward. After the gaming system provides the progressive award, an amountof the progressive award is reset to the initial amount and a portion ofeach subsequent wager is allocated to the next progressive award. Atleast U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,766,079; 7,585,223; 7,651,392; 7,666,093;7,780,523; and 7,905,778 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.2008/0020846, 200910123364, 200910123363, and 2010/0227677 describevarious examples of different progressive gaming systems.

As generally noted above, hi addition to providing winning credits orother awards for one or more plays of the primary game(s), in variousembodiments the gaming system provides credits or other awards for oneor more plays of one or more secondary games. The secondary gametypically enables a prize or payout in to be obtained addition to anyprize or payout obtained through play of the primary game(s). Thesecondary game(s) typically produces a higher level of player excitementthan the primary game(s) because the secondary game(s) provides agreater expectation of winning than the primary game(s) and isaccompanied with more attractive or unusual features than the primarygame(s). It should be appreciated that the secondary game(s) may be anytype of suitable game, either similar to or completely different fromthe primary game.

In various embodiments, the gaming system automatically provides orinitiates the secondary game upon the occurrence of a triggering eventor the satisfaction of a qualifying condition. In other embodiments, thegaming system initiates the secondary game upon the occurrence of thetriggering event or the satisfaction of the qualifying condition andupon receipt of an initiation input. In certain embodiments, thetriggering event or qualifying condition is a selected outcome in theprimary game(s) or a particular arrangement of one or more indicia on adisplay device for a play of the primary game(s), such as a “BONUS”symbol appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline following aspin of the reels for a play of the primary game. In other embodiments,the triggering event or qualifying condition occurs based on a certainamount of game play (such as number of games, number of credits, amountof time) being exceeded, or based on a specified number of points beingearned during game play. It should be appreciated that any suitabletriggering event or qualifying condition or any suitable combination ofa plurality of different triggering events or qualifying conditions maybe employed.

In other embodiments, at least one processor of the gaming systemrandomly determines when to provide one or more plays of one or moresecondary games. In one such embodiment, no apparent reason is providedfor the providing of the secondary game. In this embodiment, qualifyingfor a secondary game is not triggered by the occurrence of an event inany primary game or based specifically on any of the plays of anyprimary game. That is, qualification is provided without any explanationor, alternatively, with a simple explanation. In another suchembodiment, the gaming system determines qualification for a secondarygame at least partially based on a game triggered or symbol triggeredevent, such as at least partially based on play of a primary game.

In various embodiments, after qualification for a secondary game hasbeen determined, the secondary game participation may be enhancedthrough continued play on the primary game. Thus, in certainembodiments, for each secondary game qualifying event, such as asecondary game symbol, that is obtained, a given number of secondarygame wagering points or credits is accumulated in a “secondary gamemeter” configured to accrue the secondary game wagering credits orentries toward eventual participation in the secondary game. In one suchembodiment, the occurrence of multiple such secondary game qualifyingevents in the primary game results in an arithmetic or exponentialincrease in the number of secondary game wagering credits awarded. Inanother such embodiment, any extra secondary game wagering credits maybe redeemed during the secondary game to extend play of the secondarygame.

In certain embodiments, no separate entry fee or buy-in for thesecondary game is required. That is, entry into the secondary gamecannot be purchased; rather, in these embodiments entry must be won orearned through play of the primary game, thereby encouraging play of theprimary game. In other embodiments, qualification for the secondary gameis accomplished through a simple “buy-in.” For example, qualificationthrough other specified activities is unsuccessful, payment of a fee orplacement of an additional wager “buys-in” to the secondary game. Incertain embodiments, a separate side wager must be placed on thesecondary game or a wager of a designated amount must be placed on theprimary game to enable qualification for the secondary game. In theseembodiments, the secondary game triggering event must occur and the sidewager (or designated primary game wager amount) must have been placedfor the secondary game to trigger.

In various embodiments in which the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs, the EGMs are configured to communicate with one another toprovide a group gaming environment. In certain such embodiments, theEGMs enable players of those EGMs to work in conjunction with oneanother, such as by enabling the players to play together as a team orgroup, to win one or more awards. In other such embodiments, the EGMsenable players of those EGMs to compete against one another for one ormore awards. In one such embodiment, the EGMs enable the players ofthose EGMs to participate in one or more gaming tournaments for one ormore awards. At least U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.2007/0123341, 2008/0070680, 2008/0176650, and 2009/0124363 describevarious examples of different group gaming systems.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes one or more playertracking systems. Such player tracking systems enable operators of thegaming system (such as casinos or other gaming establishments) torecognize the value of customer loyalty by identifying frequentcustomers and rewarding them for their patronage. Such a player trackingsystem is configured to track a player's gaming activity. In one suchembodiment, the player tracking system does so through the use of playertracking cards. In this embodiment, a player is issued a playeridentification card that has an encoded player identification numberthat uniquely identifies the player. When the player's playing trackingcard is inserted into a card reader of the gaming system to begin agaming session, the card reader reads the player identification numberoff the player tracking card to identify the player. The gaming systemtimely tracks any suitable information or data relating to theidentified player's gaming session. The gaming system also timely trackswhen the player tracking card is removed to conclude play for thatgaming session. In another embodiment, rather than requiring insertionof a player tracking card into the card reader, the gaming systemutilizes one or more portable devices, such as a cell phone, a radiofrequency identification tag, or any other suitable wireless device, totrack when a gaming session begins and ends. In another embodiment, thegaming system utilizes any suitable biometric technology or tickettechnology to track when a gaming session begins and ends.

In such embodiments, during one or more gaming sessions, the gamingsystem tracks any suitable information or data, such as any amountswagered, average wager amounts, and/or the time at which these wagersare placed. In different embodiments, for one or more players, theplayer tracking system includes the player's account number, theplayer's card number, the player's first name, the player's surname, theplayer's preferred name, the player's player tracking ranking, anypromotion status associated with the player's player tracking card, theplayer's address, the player's birthday, the player's anniversary, theplayer's recent gaming sessions, or any other suitable data. In variousembodiments, such tracked information and/or any suitable featureassociated with the player tracking system is displayed on a playertracking display. In various embodiments, such tracked informationand/or any suitable feature associated with the player tracking systemis displayed via one or more service windows that are displayed on thecentral display device and/or the upper display device. At least U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,722,985; 6,908,387; 7,311,605; 7,611,411; 7,617,151; and8,057,298 describe various examples of player tracking systems.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresent embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilledin the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and withoutdiminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that suchchanges and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming system comprising: ahousing; at least one processor; at least one display device supportedby the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housingand including an acceptor; and at least one memory device storing aplurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at leastone display device and the plurality of input devices to: (a) establisha credit balance for a player based at least in part on a monetary valueassociated with a physical item following receipt, by the acceptor, ofthe physical item; (b) place a wager on a play of a game followingreceipt of an actuation of a wager button; (c) for the play of the game,display a plurality of initial hands of cards; (d) receive, by at leastone of the plurality of input devices, at least one hand formation inputfrom a player; (e) for each of the initial hands, form and display acomplete hand of cards; (f) for each of the complete hands, determinewhether said complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of aplurality of different winning hand categories; (g) if at least one ofthe complete hands forms the winning hand associated with one of thewinning hand categories: (i) for each of the complete hands that formsone of the winning hands, increase the credit balance based on an awardassociated with said winning hand; (ii) display an indication of eachwinning hand category associated with at least one complete hand thatforms one of the winning hands; (iii) receive, by at least one of theplurality of input devices, a selection of one of the displayed winninghand categories from the player; and (iv) add an enhancement to thedisplay of any complete hand that forms the winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category without adding said enhancement tothe display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand other thanthe winning hand associated with the selected winning hand categorybased on the player's selection of said winning hand category; and (h)initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receiptof an actuation of a cashout button.
 2. The gaming system of claim 1,wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at leastone display device to, for each of the displayed winning handcategories, display in association with said displayed winning handcategory a quantity of the complete hands that form the winning handassociated with said displayed winning hand category.
 3. The gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executedby the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor torepeat (g)(iii) to (g)(iv) at least once.
 4. The gaming system of claim1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the atleast one display device to add said enhancement to the display of anycomplete hand that forms the winning hand associated with the selectedwinning hand category without adding said enhancement to the display ofany complete hand that forms a winning hand other than the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category based on the player'sselection of said winning hand category by brightening the display ofany complete hand that forms the winning hand associated with theselected winning hand category without brightening the display of anycomplete hand that forms a winning hand other than the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category based on the player'sselection of said winning hand category.
 5. The gaming system of claim1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the atleast one display device to add said enhancement to the display of anycomplete hand that forms the winning hand associated with the selectedwinning hand category without adding said enhancement to the display ofany complete hand that forms a winning hand other than the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category based on the player'sselection of said winning hand category by increasing a size of anycomplete hand that forms the winning hand associated with the selectedwinning hand category without increasing a size of any complete handthat forms a winning hand other than the winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category based on the player's selection ofsaid winning hand category.
 6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein theplurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least onedisplay device to deemphasize the display of any complete hand that doesnot form the winning hand associated with the selected winning handcategory without deemphasizing the display of any complete hand thatforms the winning hand associated with the selected winning handcategory.
 7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the plurality ofinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the atleast one processor to operate with the at least one display device todeemphasize the display of any complete hand that does not form thewinning hand associated with the selected winning hand category withoutdeemphasizing the display of any complete hand that forms the winninghand associated with the selected winning hand category by dimming thedisplay of any complete hand that does not form the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category without dimming thedisplay of any complete hand that forms the winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category.
 8. The gaming system of claim 1,wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at leastone input device to receive the selection of one of the displayedwinning hand categories via a touch screen.
 9. The gaming system ofclaim 1, wherein the card game is one of: One Hundred Play Video Pokerand Fifty Play Video Poker.
 10. A method of operating a gaming system,said method comprising: (a) receiving, by an acceptor of the gamingsystem, a physical item associated with a monetary value; (b) causing atleast one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in atleast one memory device to establish a credit balance based at least inpart on the monetary value associated with the received physical item;(c) receiving an actuation of a wager button; (d) causing the at leastone processor to execute the plurality of instructions to place a wageron a play of a game in response to receiving the actuation of the wagerbutton; (e) for the play of the game, causing the at least one processorto execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least onedisplay device to display a plurality of initial hands of cards; (f)receiving, by an input device, at least one hand formation input from aplayer; (g) causing the at least one processor to execute the pluralityof instructions to, for each of the initial hands, form and operate withthe at least one display device to display a complete hand of cards; (h)for each of the complete hands, causing the at least one processor toexecute the plurality of instructions to determine whether said completehand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality ofdifferent winning hand categories; (i) if at least one of the completehands forms the winning hand associated with one of the winning handcategories: (i) for each of the complete hands that forms one of thewinning hands, causing the at least one processor to execute theplurality of instructions to increase the credit balance based on anaward associated with said winning hand; (ii) causing the at least oneprocessor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with theat least one display device to display an indication of each winninghand category associated with at least one complete hand that forms oneof the winning hands; (iii) receiving, by the input device, a selectionof one of the displayed winning hand categories from the player; and(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality ofinstructions to operate with the at least one display device to add anenhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms the winninghand associated with the selected winning hand category without addingsaid enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms awinning hand other than the winning hand associated with the selectedwinning hand category based on the player's selection of said winninghand category; (j) receiving an actuation of a cashout button; and (k)causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality ofinstructions to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance inresponse to receiving the actuation of the cashout button.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor toexecute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least onedisplay device to, for each of the displayed winning hand categories,display in association with said displayed winning hand category aquantity of the complete hands that form the winning hand associatedwith said displayed winning hand category.
 12. The method of claim 10,which includes repeating (i)(iii) to (i)(iv) at least once.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor toexecute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least onedisplay device to add said enhancement to the display of any completehand that forms the winning hand associated with the selected winninghand category without adding said enhancement to the display of anycomplete hand that forms a winning hand other than the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category based on the player'sselection of said winning hand category by brightening the display ofany complete hand that forms the winning hand associated with theselected winning hand category without brightening the display of anycomplete hand that forms a winning hand other than the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category based on the player'sselection of said winning hand category.
 14. The method of claim 10,which includes causing the at least one processor to execute theplurality of instructions to operate with the at least one displaydevice to add said enhancement to the display of any complete hand thatforms the winning hand associated with the selected winning handcategory without adding said enhancement to the display of any completehand that forms a winning hand other than the winning hand associatedwith the selected winning hand category based on the player's selectionof said winning hand category by increasing a size of any complete handthat forms the winning hand associated with the selected winning handcategory without increasing a size of any complete hand that forms awinning hand other than the winning hand associated with the selectedwinning hand category based on the player's selection of said winninghand category.
 15. The method of claim 10, which includes causing the atleast one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operatewith the at least one display device to deemphasize the display of anycomplete hand that does not form the winning hand associated with theselected winning hand category without deemphasizing the display of anycomplete hand that forms the winning hand associated with the selectedwinning hand category.
 16. The method of claim 15, which includescausing the at least one processor to execute the plurality ofinstructions to operate with the at least one display device todeemphasize the display of any complete hand that does not form thewinning hand associated with the selected winning hand category withoutdeemphasizing the display of any complete hand that forms the winninghand associated with the selected winning hand category by dimming thedisplay of any complete hand that does not form the winning handassociated with the selected winning hand category without dimming thedisplay of any complete hand that forms the winning hand associated withthe selected winning hand category.
 17. The method of claim 10, whichincludes receiving the selection of one of the displayed winning handcategories via a touch screen.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein thecard game is one of: One Hundred Play Video Poker and Fifty Play VideoPoker.
 19. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a datanetwork.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is aninternet.